The Loyd Star Hornets flexed their muscles and swept the NorthForrest Eagles of Hattiesburg with a 10-0 victory Saturday in thesecond game of the best-of-three series in the opening round of theMSHAA state baseball 2A playoffs at Smith Field.

In Friday night action, the Hornets crushed the host Eagles inopening game winning 17-1 to gain the upper hand in the seriesbefore returning home.

“We played very well in this series,” said Loyd Star coach JonathanBreakfield. “We really swung the bats well and our pitchers did anoutstanding job, only allowing four hits between the two games.Overall, we had a good all-around performance to start theplayoffs.”

The Hornets (24-4) will have the rest of the week off beforereturning to the diamond Friday, as they prepare to travel to facethe Union Yellow Jackets for a best-of-three series.

Loyd Star will host one game of the series Saturday. Game timeshave not been set.

Loyd Star 17, North Forrest 1

The Hornets swarmed all over the Eagles in the first inning byscoring five runs. They never looked back as Loyd Star outhit NorthForrest 15-3 in five-innings.

Korey Allen was the winning pitcher for the Hornets collecting sixstrikeouts and two walks. Lakon Wilson adsorbed the loss for theEagles with no strikeouts and three walks.

Catcher Travis Keene produced the offensive firepower for Loyd Starwith three doubles and a single. Allen contributed ammunition witha double and a single. Tyler Case belted three singles. TaylorJones smashed two singles. Hitting safely were Austin West, CoreyFunk, Cori Crowe and Branden Canny.

Jalen Haskins was the leader for North Forrest with a double and asingle. Shaun Jones hit safely.

Loyd Star 10, North Forrest 0

The Hornets managed to pick up where they left off with their hothitting streak to eliminate the Eagles.

Cori Funk continued Loyd Star’s strong 1-hit pitching performanceas he grabbed the win with one strikeout, one walk and one hitbatter. Logan Wilson suffered the loss for the Eagles with twostrikeouts and eight walks.

Marquis Hayes and Logan Smith were offensive leaders for Loyd Starwith a double and a single apiece. Canny provided a triple. Casehit two singles. Funk had a double and Keene hit safely.

North Forrest recorded only one hit for the game, which was asingle by Jones.